New Mexico adds opioid use to conditions for medical pot

By MORGAN LEE
June 6, 2019

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A state at the forefront of the U.S. opioid and drug overdose epidemic is turning to its medical marijuana program to reduce suffering from drug use and addiction.

New Mexico health officials on Thursday expanded the list of qualifying conditions for the state’s medical cannabis program to include opioid use disorder, joining several other states. Other qualifying conditions that were added include Alzheimer’s disease, autism spectrum disorder and three degenerative neurological disorders.

First-year Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a former state health secretary, campaigned on a pledge to open up the medical marijuana program to people struggling with opioid use and addiction after the previous administration rejected petitions for the change.

Lujan Grisham said Thursday’s decision was long overdue.

“We need to explore and pursue every available means of responding to the health and wellness needs of our neighbors here in New Mexico,” the governor said. “Compassion must guide our decision making.”

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